DETAILED ACTION
The office action is in response to the application filed received on May 12, 2026 as RCE.
The RCE application was received on May 12, 2026.
Claims 1-10 and 12-15 are pending in this application.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDSs) submitted on Oct 24, 2022 have been considered by the examiner.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s Amendments and Arguments filed 05/12/2026 have been considered for examination. Claims 1-10 and 12-15 are pending.
With regard to the 102/103 rejections, Applicant’s arguments filed 05/12/2026 (see pages 6-9 of Remarks) in view of the amendments have been fully considered are persuasive. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in the below due to amendments.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on May 12, 2026 has been entered.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: “processing unit” in claim 12.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
A review of the specification shows that the following appears to be the corresponding structure described in the specification for the 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph limitation: " The processing unit 30 may be implemented as a software module or component. " (see Page 15, lines 12 to 13 of the specification as filed).
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1-5, 7, 10, and 12 are rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Young Shin Park et. al. (USPat. No.: US 10168161B2, hereinafter “Park”) in a view of Daniel J. Daoura et. al. (USPub. No.: US 20220165146 A1, hereinafter “Daoura”).
Regarding to claim 1, Park teaches a method for hybrid localization in a first physical area and in a second physical area, the method comprising: (Park, in Fig. 3 and 7 and in Col. 10, Lines 48-65 and Col. 11, Lines 13-30, teaches that in Fig. 3 and 7, based on an indoor positioning scheme (IPS) such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or RF fingering based positioning scheme and an outdoor positioning scheme (OPS) such as GPS, outdoor WiFi, cellular trilateration, a hybrid of GPS and cellular positioning techniques, RF fingerprinting, or forward link trilateration (FLT), the given UE is provisioned with transition region information that characterizes both an indoor-to-outdoor transition region (or IO transition region) and an outdoor-to-indoor transition region (or OI transition region) associated with the particular enclosed environment. Thus, the given UE moves from indoor to outdoor or from outdoor to indoor via the transition region and according to UE movement, the IPS or the OPS is applied for the location measurement for an indoor region, an outdoor region, or a transition region, respectively. ) operating a device in a first mode of operation, while the device is in the first physical area in which a wireless communication is available, detecting that the device transitions from the first physical area to the second physical area in which a short range radio signal transmission is available, and switching the device to a second mode of operation upon detection that the device transitions from the first physical area to the second physical area, wherein in the first mode of operation the device uses a first technology for localization, (Park, in Fig. 6B-6D and Fig. 7 and in Col. 10, Line 48 to Col. 13, Line22, teaches that Fig. 6C and 6D show the outdoor(the first physical area)-to-indoor (the second physical area) transition regions. In Fig. 7, as described in Col 11, Lines 11-30, for an indoor positioning scheme (IPS: the second positioning technology for the second mode), one of techniques such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or RF fingering based positioning scheme can be applied and for an outdoor positioning scheme (OPS: the first positioning technology for the first mode), one of the technologies such as GPS, outdoor WiFi, cellular trilateration, a hybrid of GPS and cellular positioning techniques, RF fingerprinting, or forward link trilateration (FLT), can be applied. Further, Steps from 725 to 700 in Fig. 7 and Col. 12, Line 32 to Col. 13, Line 22, represents the procedure for outdoor-to-indoor transition. In the procedure, the given UE is positioned at outdoor area, namely, outside of an indoor area and is tracking its location via OPS such as GPS positioning. If the given UE determines that it has entered outdoor-to-indoor transition region, the UE continues to track its location via the OPS (GPS) and begin to track its location using IPS (WiFi based positioning, it is a short rang positioning technique, but the Bluetooth positioning or RF fingerprinting positioning can be applied, instead, as mentioned in the above.), Step 730. Then, as the given UE is moving further to inside of an indoor area, the given UE evaluates the quality of the location measurement associated with IPS, Step 735. Until the quality of the location measurement of IPS becomes above the second quality threshold, the given UE continues to use both IPS and OPS to track its location, Step 730. If the quality of the location measurement of IPS rise above the second quality threshold, the given UE stops tracking its location using OPS and continues to track its location only using IPS, Step 700. Now, the OPS is fully switched to IPS to track the location of the given UE. It means the given UE move from the first physical area to the second physical area, fully. Thus, Park teaches all the steps: the device operates the first mode operation (outdoor positioning) in the first physical area (outdoor region: long range area), transits from the first physical area to the second area (indoor area), and switch from the firs mode operation (OPS) to the second mode operation (IPS) by detecting that the device moves from the first physical area to the second physical area, based on checking the quality of the location measurement.).
However, Park does not explicitly teach that for the second mode operation, the device emulates (performs) the second technology for localization using the short range radio positioning during the idle period of wireless communication.
Daoura teaches wherein in the second mode of operation the device uses at least a second technology for localization in which the device emulates the short range radio signal transmission by transmitting at least one short range radio signal using a wireless modem for the wireless communication during at least one idle period of the wireless communication (Daoura, in Fig 9-12 and in Paragraphs [0238]-[0260], teaches that in Fig. 11, the transition procedure of the location finding technology for a hybrid Bluetooth/cellular wireless system is explained. Its example is described in Fig. 12. The Bluetooth location technique is used as the second technology and the second physical area is determined based on RSSI measurement. According to the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), the cellular technology such as GPS (the first technology) and the Bluetooth technology such as Bluetooth low energy technique (the second technology) can be exchangeable. Further, as described in Paragraph [0243], to monitor the approximation distance between the radio tag and the smart phone, the Bluetooth radio continuously transmits the beacon signal as described in Paragraph [0218]. Further, for the power saving mode, DRX or eDRX modes (considered as an idle mode), if BT (Bluetooth Technology) connectivity is good and the companion smartphone is in BT radio proximity, the Bluetooth radio signals are routed through a smart device or reference hup that is connected to the cloud. Otherwise, the cellular radio is awake and receives direct commands from a cellular radio network in a paging window.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park and Daoura to include the technique of wherein in the second mode of operation the device uses at least a second technology for localization in which the device emulates the short range radio signal transmission by transmitting at least one short range radio signal using a wireless modem for the wireless communication during at least one idle period of the wireless communication of Daoura in the system of Park to provide an energy harvesting human interface or other user interface for a XCB (Crossover Cellular Bluetooth: hybrid ) device to improve the connection quality while minimizing unnecessary power consumption. (Daoura, see Paragraphs [0148] and [0448]).).
Regarding claim 2, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Daoura further teaches that wherein in the second mode of operation the device emulates a Bluetooth Low Energy positioning or an ultra-wide band positioning or a Wireless Local Area Network according to IEEE 802.11x, positioning during the at least one idle period of the wireless communication (Daoura, in Paragraph [0014]-[0016], teaches that at the UE, for the short range positioning (the second technology) as the second mode during the sleep mode of cellular localization (the first technology), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) is emulated as described by mapping BLE radio packets as a snapshots of BLE. As described in [0015] and [0016], UWB (Ultra-Wide Band) or WiFi (802.lla/b/g/n/ac/ah/ax as indicated in Paragraph [0016]) is emulated instead of BLE.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park and Daoura to include the technique of wherein in the second mode of operation the device emulates a Bluetooth Low Energy positioning or an ultra-wide band positioning or a Wireless Local Area Network according to IEEE 802.11x, positioning during the at least one idle period of the wireless communication of Daoura in the system of Park to provide an energy harvesting human interface or other user interface for a XCB (Crossover Cellular Bluetooth) device to improve the connection quality while minimizing unnecessary power consumption. (Daoura, see Paragraphs [0148] and [0448]).).
Regarding claim 3, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 2, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Daoura further teaches that wherein in the second mode of operation the device emulates the Bluetooth Low Energy positioning during the at least one idle period of the wireless communication by sending at least one Bluetooth direction finding packet during the at least one idle period of the wireless communication (Daoura, in Fig 9-12 and in Paragraphs [0238]-[0260], teaches that in Fig. 11, the transition procedure of the location finding technology for a hybrid Bluetooth/cellular wireless system is explained. Its example is described in Fig. 12. The Bluetooth location technique is used as the second technology and the second physical area is determined upon RSSI measurement. According to the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), the cellular technology such as GPS (the first technology) and the Bluetooth technology such as Bluetooth low energy technique (the second technology) can be exchangeable. Further, as described in Paragraph [0243], to monitor the approximation distance between the radiotag and the smart phone, the Bluetooth radio continuously transmits the beacon signal as described in Paragraph [0218]. Further, for the power saving mode, DRX or eDRX modes (considered as an idle mode), if BT (Bluetooth Technology) connectivity is good and the companion smartphone is in BT radio proximity, the Bluetooth radio signals are routed through a smart device or reference hup that is connected to the cloud. Otherwise, the cellular radio is awake and receives direct commands from a cellular radio network in a paging window. For this procedure, IPv6 can be emulated over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), as described in Paragraphs [0014] and [0015], by using the snapshot technology of BLE radio packets (as shown in Fig. 25 and 26) during the sleep mode of the cellular modem.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park and Daoura to include the technique of wherein in the second mode of operation the device emulates the Bluetooth Low Energy positioning during the at least one idle period of the wireless communication by sending at least one Bluetooth direction finding packet during the at least one idle period of the wireless communication of Daoura in the system of Park to provide an energy harvesting human interface or other user interface for a XCB (Crossover Cellular Bluetooth) device to improve connection quality while minimizing unnecessary power consumption. (Daoura, see Paragraphs [0148] and [0448]).).
Regarding claim 4, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Daoura further teaches wherein the at least one idle period of the wireless communication is a timespan during which no transmission on the wireless communication occurs (Daoura, in Paragraph [0258], teaches that as described in Paragraph [0258], in a hybrid Bluetooth (BT)/Cellular system, BT connectivity is good and the companion smartphone 30 operated by a user/subscriber 11 is in BT radio proximity, the cellular modem of radiotag 10 is kept in SLEEP mode to save energy. SLEEP mode has features of PSM mode as shown in FIG. 8B. Alterations to PSM, DRX and eDRX modes can be triggered
remotely using Bluetooth radio signals routed through a smart device or reference hub that is connected to the cloud, or when the cellular radio is AWAKE and receiving direct commands from a cellular radio network in a paging window. Thus, during the sleep mode, the cellular radio does not transmit and instead, BT radio is working.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park and Daoura to include the technique of wherein the at least one idle period of the wireless communication is a timespan during which no transmission on the wireless communication occurs of Daoura in the system of Park to provide an energy harvesting human interface or other user interface for a XCB (Crossover Cellular Bluetooth) device to improve connection quality while minimizing unnecessary power consumption. (Daoura, see Paragraphs [0148] and [0448]).).
Regarding claim 5, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Daoura further teaches wherein the at least one idle period of the wireless communication conforms to a discontinuous reception (DRX) or an enhanced/extended DRX, connected mode DRX, or a power save mode, or a wake-up signal period, or a wake-up signal duration (Daoura, in Fig 8B and in Paragraphs [0221]-[0222], teaches that Fig 8B describes the power states associated with 5G cellular network management. Active/Connected mode of cellular radio includes reduced power state that is achieved by reducing the duty cycle for the radio and associated processor (DRX, eDRX, PSM). It is established by protocols set forth by network operators. While, when the radio is in a low energy Disconnected Idle state, the UE cannot be aroused from sleep or concated by the network except during a designated wake period. In connected mode, the system implements only PSM as a standby condition. DRX and eDRX states operate on a reduced duty cycle in which the interval between network refresh windows cannot be extended indefinitely. Thus, the idle period is configured as DRX, eDRX, PSM, wake-up signal period, or wake-up signal duration.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park and Daoura to include the technique of wherein the at least one idle period of the wireless communication conforms to a discontinuous reception (DRX) or an enhanced/extended DRX, connected mode DRX, or a power save mode, or a wake-up signal period, or a wake-up signal duration of Daoura in the system of Park to provide an energy harvesting human interface or other user interface for a XCB (Crossover Cellular Bluetooth) device to improve connection quality while minimizing unnecessary power consumption. (Daoura, see Paragraphs [0148] and [0448]).).
Regarding claim 7, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Daoura further teaches wherein a duration of the at least one idle period is adjusted by way of negotiation (Daoura, in Paragraphs [0137]-[0139], teaches that he processor is configured to cycle to a wake mode when one of (i) the cellular radio or (ii) the BT radio detects a radio signal that carries one or more symbols or frames that satisfy the characteristics of a “qualified wake signal”. A digital correlator is use to match the pattern of the incoming digital radio signal to a repertoire of qualified wake signals. Thus, if either of radio detects the qualified wake signal (wakeup signal), the sleep mode (an idle period) is adjusted or transited.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park and Daoura to include the technique of wherein a duration of the at least one idle period is adjusted by way of negotiation of Daoura in the system of Park to provide an energy harvesting human interface or other user interface for a XCB (Crossover Cellular Bluetooth) device to improve connection quality while minimizing unnecessary power consumption. (Daoura, see Paragraphs [0148] and [0448]).).
Regarding claim 10, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Park further teaches wherein the first technology for localization comprises at least one of the following: a Global Navigation Satellite Service, a cellular telecommunication technology, a wireless communication technology (Park, in Fig. 7 and in Col. 11, Lines 10-30, teaches that the candidate of the first positioning technologies (outdoor positioning scheme) is among GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) like GPS (Global Positioning System), cellular trilateration (cellular positioning technique), hybrid of GPS and cellular positioning techniques, or outdoor WiFi positioning technique (using wireless communication technology).).
Regarding to claim 12, Park teaches a device for hybrid localization, the device comprising: a wireless modem configured to provide a bidirectional wireless communication capability according to a wireless communication standard, in a first mode of operation, and a processing unit configured to provide at least one packet having localization enabling information to the wireless modem in a second mode of operation, the at least one packet conforming to a short range radio signal transmission, (Park, in Fig. 3 and 7 and in Col. 10, Lines 48-65 and Col. 11, Lines 13-30, teaches that based on Fig. 3 and 7, based on an indoor positioning scheme (IPS) such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or RF fingering based positioning scheme and an outdoor positioning scheme (OPS) such as GPS, outdoor WiFi, cellular trilateration, a hybrid of GPS and cellular positioning techniques, RF fingerprinting, or forward link trilateration (FLT), the given UE is provisioned with transition region information that characterizes both an indoor-to-outdoor transition region (or IO transition region) and an outdoor-to-indoor transition region (or OI transition region) associated with the particular enclosed environment. Thus, the given UE moves from indoor to outdoor or from outdoor to indoor via the transition region and according to UE movement, the IPS or the OPS is applied for the location measurement for an indoor region, an outdoor region, or a transition region, respectively. Further, IPS or OPS, such as cellular technology, WiFi, or Bluetooth) operates based on the wireless standard and wireless modem operation with packet communication.) wherein the device is configured to be operated in the first mode of operation while the device is in a first physical area in which a wireless communication is available, the device further configured to be operated in the second mode of operation while the device is in a second physical area in which a short range radio signal transmission is available, wherein in the first mode of operation the device is configured to use a first technology for localization, and wherein in the second mode of operation the device is configured to use at least a second technology for localization, (Park, in Fig. 6B-6D and Fig. 7 and in Col. 10, Line 48 to Col. 13, Line22, teaches that Fig. 6C and 6D show the outdoor(the first physical area)-to-indoor (the second physical area) transition regions. In Fig. 7, as described in Col 11, Lines 11-30, for an indoor positioning scheme (IPS: the second positioning technology for the second mode), one of techniques such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or RF fingering based positioning scheme can be applied and for an outdoor positioning scheme (OPS: the first positioning technology for the first mode), one of the technologies such as GPS, outdoor WiFi, cellular trilateration, a hybrid of GPS and cellular positioning techniques, RF fingerprinting, or forward link trilateration (FLT), can be applied. Further, Steps from 725 to 700 in Fig. 7 and Col. 12, Line 32 to Col. 13, Line 22, represents the procedure for outdoor-to-indoor transition. In the procedure, the given UE is positioned at outdoor area, namely, outside of an indoor area and is tracking its location via OPS such as GPS positioning. If the given UE determines that it has entered outdoor-to-indoor transition region, the UE continues to track its location via the OPS (GPS) and begin to track its location using IPS (WiFi based positioning, it is a short rang positioning technique, but the Bluetooth positioning or RF fingerprinting positioning can be applied, instead, as mentioned in the above.), Step 730. Then, as the given UE is moving further to inside of an indoor area, the given UE evaluates the quality of the location measurement associated with IPS, Step 735. Until the quality of the location measurement of IPS becomes above the second quality threshold, the given UE continues to use both IPS and OPS to track its location, Step 730. If the quality of the location measurement of IPS rise above the second quality threshold, the given UE stops tracking its location using OPS and continues to track its location only using IPS, Step 700. Now, the OPS is fully switched to IPS to track the location of the given UE. It means the given UE move from the first physical area to the second physical area, fully. Thus, Park teaches all the steps: the device operates the first mode operation (outdoor positioning) in the first physical area (outdoor region: long range area), transits from the first physical area to the second area (indoor area), and switch from the firs mode operation (OPS) to the second mode operation (IPS) by detecting that the device moves from the first physical area to the second physical area, based on checking the quality of the location measurement.)
Park does not explicitly teach that for the second mode operation, the device emulates (or performs) the short range radio signal transmission by transmitting the packet during an idle period of the wireless communication.
Daoura teaches wherein the second technology comprises emulating the short range radio signal transmission by transmitting the at least one packet during at least one idle period of the wireless communication, wherein the wireless modem is configured to transmit the at least one packet during the at least one idle period of the wireless communication (Daoura, in Fig 9-12 and in Paragraphs [0238]-[0260], teaches that in Fig. 11, the transition procedure of the location finding technology for a hybrid Bluetooth/cellular wireless system is explained. Its example is described in Fig. 12. The Bluetooth location technique is used as the second technology and the second physical area is determined upon RSSI measurement. According to the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), the cellular technology such as GPS (the first technology) and the Bluetooth technology such as Bluetooth low energy technique (the second technology) can be exchangeable. Further, as described in Paragraph [0243], to monitor the approximation distance between the radiotag and the smart phone, the Bluetooth radio continuously transmits the beacon signal as described in Paragraph [0218]. Further, for the power saving mode, DRX or eDRX modes (considered as an idle mode), if BT (Bluetooth Technology) connectivity is good and the companion smartphone is in BT radio proximity, the Bluetooth radio signals are routed through a smart device or reference hup that is connected to the cloud. Otherwise, the cellular radio is awake and receives direct commands from a cellular radio network in a paging window.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park and Daoura to include the technique of wherein the second technology comprises emulating the short range radio signal transmission by transmitting the at least one packet during at least one idle period of the wireless communication, wherein the wireless modem is configured to transmit the at least one packet during the at least one idle period of the wireless communication of Daoura in the system of Park to provide an energy harvesting human interface or other user interface for a XCB (Crossover Cellular Bluetooth) device to improve connection quality while minimizing unnecessary power consumption. (Daoura, see Paragraphs [0148] and [0448]).).
Claim 3 and 6 is rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Young Shin Park et. al. (USPub. No.: US 10168161B2, hereinafter “Park”) in a view of Daniel J. Daoura et. al. (USPat. No.: US 20220165146 A1, hereinafter “Daoura”) and further in a view of Jared H. Dean et. al. (USPub No.: US 20250264878 A1, hereinafter, “Dean”).
Regarding claim 3, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 2, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Combination of Park and Daoura does not explicitly teach that the device emulates (performs) the Bluetooth Low Energy positioning during the idle period by sending a Bluetooth direction finding packet.
Dean further teaches that wherein in the second mode of operation the device emulates the Bluetooth Low Energy positioning during the at least one idle period of the wireless communication by sending at least one Bluetooth direction finding packet during the at least one idle period of the wireless communication (Dean, in Fig. 13 and in Paragraphs [0048] and [0127], teach that as described in Fig. 13 and in Paragraph [0127], in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) positioning system, the tag (the device or the UE) transmits wireless signals (or Blink packet) (considered as a direction finding packet) via BLE or UWB 140B to two or more anchors (anchors 1330, 1360, and 1370), where the wireless signal transmitted is a single, short-duration radio-frequency packet broadcast and the primary function of the transmitted packet is to serve as a time-stamped event that the anchors can use to determine the tag's location via Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) and Angle of Arrival (AoA) measurements. The transmitted packet (from the tag 110) includes the tag unique ID (e.g. a MAC address) as well as information such as the tag battery level or tag orientation if it includes an orientation sensor. While, each anchor (e.g. 1330 and 1360) independently receive wireless signals, timestamp the signals, calculate the angle-of-arrival of the signals, and combine the received and calculated data into a "blink packet" or record of the received wireless signal, where the record is sent to the location server. Further, as described in Paragraph [0048], BLE may be used to enable a low-power wake-up functionality of the tag 110A so that it can enter a sleep mode (idle period) and wake upon receipt of BLE message received by a BLE transceiver. Based on this observation, for the second mode operation, the device (tag) in BLE position system operation transmits the direction finding packet to anchors during an idle period.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park, Daoura, and Dean to include the technique of wherein in the second mode of operation the device emulates the Bluetooth Low Energy positioning during the at least one idle period of the wireless communication by sending at least one Bluetooth direction finding packet during the at least one idle period of the wireless communication of Dean in the system of Park to provide an indoor positioning system to improve positioning accuracy and reduce its uncertainty in order to implement supplicated management system that optimize resource utilization, minimize response time and maximize operational efficiency in complex indoor environment. (Dean, see Paragraphs [0111] and [0189]).).
Claim 6 is rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Young Shin Park et. al. (USPub. No.: US 10168161B2, hereinafter “Park”) in a view of Daniel J. Daoura et. al. (USPat. No.: US 20220165146 A1, hereinafter “Daoura”) and further in a view of Jared H. Dean et. al. (USPub No.: US 20250264878 A1, hereinafter, “Dean”) and further in a view of Khaled Ismail (USPat. No.: US 12143195 B1, hereinafter “Ismail”).
Regarding claim 6, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Combination of Park and Daoura does not explicitly teach that for the second mode operation, the device sends Bluetoot direction finding packet during an idle period via wireless modem.
Dean teaches that wherein in the second mode of operation the device employs said wireless modem for sending at least one Bluetooth direction finding packet during the at least one idle period, (Dean, in Fig. 13 and in Paragraphs [0048] and [0127], teach that as described in Fig. 13 and in Paragraph [0127], in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) positioning system, the tag (the device or the UE) transmits wireless signals (or Blink packet) (considered as a direction finding packet) via BLE or UWB 140B to two or more anchors (anchors 1330, 1360, and 1370), where the wireless signal transmitted is a single, short-duration radio-frequency packet broadcast and the primary function of the transmitted packet is to serve as a time-stamped event that the anchors can use to determine the tag's location via Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) and Angle of Arrival (AoA) measurements. The transmitted packet (from the tag 110) includes the tag unique ID (e.g. a MAC address) as well as information such as the tag battery level or tag orientation if it includes an orientation sensor. While, each anchor (e.g. 1330 and 1360) independently receive wireless signals, timestamp the signals, calculate the angle-of-arrival of the signals, and combine the received and calculated data into a "blink packet" or record of the received wireless signal, where the record is sent to the location server. Further, as described in Paragraph [0048], BLE may be used to enable a low-power wake-up functionality of the tag 110A so that it can enter a sleep mode (idle period) and wake upon receipt of BLE message received by a BLE transceiver. Based on this observation, for the second mode operation, the device (tag) in BLE position system operation transmits the direction finding packet to anchors during an idle period.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park, Daoura, and Dean to include the technique of wherein in the second mode of operation the device employs said wireless modem for sending at least one Bluetooth direction finding packet during the at least one idle period, of Dean in the system of Park to provide an indoor positioning system to improve positioning accuracy and reduce its uncertainty in order to implement supplicated management system that optimize resource utilization, minimize response time and maximize operational efficiency in complex indoor environment. (Dean, see Paragraphs [0111] and [0189]).).
However, combination of Park, Daoura, and Dean does not explicitly teach that the Bluetooth direction finding packet comprises a constant tone extension and a packet data unit.
Ismail teaches the at least one Bluetooth direction finding packet comprising a constant tone extension and a packet data unit (Ismail, in Fig. 1 to 4 and in Col. 2, lines 22 to 32 and Col. 10, lines 17 to 49, teaches that for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) positioning method, the BLE communication standard outlines specialized direction-finding enabled data packets having known direction-finding signals such as Constant Tone Extension (CTE) which can be utilized to determine direction from a destination electronic device observing these data packets, such as the one or more electronic devices 104.1 through 104.k as described above in FIG. 1 and/or the communication receiver 202 as described above in FIG. 2, to a source electronic device providing these data packets, such as the one or more electronic beacons 102.1 through 102.k as described above in FIG. 1. The exemplary BLE direction finding packet structure is illustrated in Fig. 4. In the packet, the constant tone extension (CTE) field can be used as the known reference signal to determine the direction from the source. Therefore, it is clear that the BLE positioning method can be operated by sending the direction-finding enabled data packets including a CTE field.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park, Daoura, and Ismail to include the technique of the at least one Bluetooth direction finding packet comprising a constant tone extension and a packet data unit of Ismail in the system of combination of Park and Daoura to provide the accurate angle of arrivals (AoA) between a destination electronic device and a source electronic device and to compensate for erroneous phase shifts in samples of the communication signal resulting from timing differences between receiving antennas of the destination electronic devices for the accurate short-range positioning. (Ismail, see Col. 1, lines 14-22)).
Claims 8, 9, and 14 are rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Young Shin Park et. al. (USPub. No.: US 10168161B2, hereinafter “Park”) in a view of Daniel J. Daoura et. al. (USPat. No.: US 20220165146 A1, hereinafter “Daoura”) and further in a view of Jonathan Kay et. al. (USPat. No.: US 009706364 B2, hereinafter “Kay”).
Regarding claim 8, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
However, combination of Park and Daoura does not explicitly teach that further comprising- detecting that the device transitions from the second area to the first area, and subsequently switching from the second mode of operation to the first mode of operation.
Kay teaches that further comprising- detecting that the device transitions from the second physical area to the first physical area, and subsequently switching from the second mode of operation to the first mode of operation (Kay, in Col. 7, lines 33 to 67, teaches that some factors can be useful in determining whether to give preference to indoor or outdoor positioning systems (can be considered as the first mode positioning system and the second mode positioning system, respectively), which themselves may conflict when indicating an approaching transition or an actual indoor-outdoor status. The example of this determination is shown by using the geo-fence method in lines 46-67. Therefore, it is clear that the detection of the transition between the first mode and the second mode can be made by some factors and based on the detection, the switching between modes can be done smoothly without conflicting.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park, Daoura and Kay to include the technique further comprising- detecting that the device transitions from the second area to the first area, and subsequently switching from the second mode of operation to the first mode of operation of Kay in the system of combination of Park and Daoura to provide improved techniques for determining whether a mobile computing device is indoors or outdoors for managing positioning technologies or services provided by the mobile computing device. (Kay, see Col. 2, lines 64-67 and Col. 3, lines 1-7).).
Regarding claim 9, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
However, combination of Park and Daoura does not explicitly teach that wherein detecting the device transitions between the first area and the second area comprises an evaluation of a Cell Identification, or using a geo-fence service, or using a radio frequency fingerprinting or using a Global Navigation Satellite System service.
Kay teaches that wherein detecting the device transitions between the first area and the second area comprises an evaluation of a Cell Identification, or using a geo-fence service, or using a radio frequency fingerprinting or using a Global Navigation Satellite System service (Kay, in Col. 7, lines 33 to 67, teaches that some factors can be useful in determining whether to give preference to indoor or outdoor positioning systems (can be considered as the first mode positioning system and the second mode positioning system, respectively), which themselves may conflict when indicating an approaching transition or an actual indoor-outdoor status. The example of this determination is shown by using the geo-fence method in lines 46-67. Therefore, it is clear that the detection of the transition between the first mode and the second mode can be made by some factors and based on the detection, the switching between modes can be done smoothly without conflicting.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park, Daoura, and Kay to include the technique wherein detecting the device transitions between the first area and the second area comprises an evaluation of a Cell Identification, or using a geo-fence service, or using a radio frequency fingerprinting or using a Global Navigation Satellite System service of Kay in the system of combination of Park and Daoura to provide improved techniques for determining whether a mobile computing device is indoors or outdoors for managing positioning technologies or services provided by the mobile computing device. (Kay, see Col. 2, lines 64-67 and Col. 3, lines 1-7).).
Regarding claim 14, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 12, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
However, combination of Park and Daoura does not explicitly teach that wherein the device is implemented in a single chip.
Kay teaches that wherein the device is implemented in a single chip (Kay, in Fig. 11 and in Col. 21, lines 42 to 47 teaches that the device can be implemented in a single chip based on ASIC.)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park, Daoura, and Kay to include the technique wherein the device is implemented in a single chip of Kay in the system of combination of Park and Daoura to provide improved techniques for determining whether a mobile computing device is indoors or outdoors for managing positioning technologies or services provided by the mobile computing device. (Kay, see Col. 2, lines 64-67 and Col. 3, lines 1-7).).
Claims 13 and 15 are rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Young Shin Park et. al. (USPub. No.: US 10168161B2, hereinafter “Park”) in a view of Daniel J. Daoura et. al. (USPat. No.: US 20220165146 A1, hereinafter “Daoura”) and further in a view of Koichi Abe (USPub. No.: US 20200383036 A1, hereinafter “Abe”).
Regarding claim 13, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 12, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
However, combination of Park and Daoura does not explicitly teach that wherein the at least one packet comprises a Bluetooth direction finding packet according to a Bluetooth Low Energy standard, and wherein the wireless modem is configured to provide a baseband transmission capability for the Bluetooth direction finding packet, to provide an up conversion for the Bluetooth direction finding packet to at least one Bluetooth advertising frequency channel, and to provide an output power to an up-converted Bluetooth direction finding packet according to the Bluetooth Low Energy standard.
Abe teaches that wherein the packet comprises a Bluetooth direction finding packet according to a Bluetooth Low Energy standard, (Abe, in Paragraph [0056], teaches that in the present exemplary embodiment, the Bluetooth® Low Energy standard of Bluetooth® 5.1 is used as the communication method of short-range wireless communication unit 157. Standards having a position detection function equivalent to or more sophisticated than that of Bluetooth® 5.1, like Bluetooth® 5.1 and later Bluetooth® standards, can be applied. Further, in Fig. 7 and in Paragraph [0077], Kochi teaches that FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a structure of advertising information that the short-range wireless communication unit 157 in the communication apparatus 151 transmits to cause the information processing apparatus 101 to detect the distance from the communication apparatus 151 and the direction where the communication apparatus 151 is. A Constant Tone Extension (CTE) 505 is data that is used to detect the direction of the communication apparatus 151 with respect to the information processing apparatus 101. A Preamble 501 is data intended for clock synchronization when the information processing apparatus 101 receives the advertising information from the communication apparatus 151. An Access-Address 502 is data intended for frame synchronization when the information processing apparatus 101 receives the advertising information from the communication apparatus 151. A Protocol Data Unit (PDU) 503 is an actual data portion of the advertising information transmitted from the communication apparatus 151. Therefore, it is clear that a Bluetooth direction finding packet according to a Bluetooth Low Energy standard can be configured in PDU.) and wherein the wireless modem is configured to provide a baseband transmission capability for the Bluetooth direction finding packet, (Abe, in Figh. 13 and in Paragraph [0124], teaches that in step S1005, the short-range wireless communication unit 110 requests information about communication protocols available for the communication apparatus 151 from the short-range wireless communication unit 157 by using GATT communication. This request includes information about communication protocols available for the information processing apparatus 101. Receiving the request, the short-range wireless communication unit 157 can recognize that the information processing apparatus 101 can use the Wi-Fi communication method. Therefore, it is clear that the direction finding packet can be communicate by using the baseband transmission capability of Wi-Fi communication unit.) to provide an up conversion for the Bluetooth direction finding packet to at least one Bluetooth advertising frequency channel, (Abe, in Paragraph [0068], teaches that Processing for transmitting advertising information (that include the direction finding information and can be considered as the direction finding packet.) and receiving a Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) connection request according to the Bluetooth® Low Energy standard will now be described. The short-range wireless communication unit 157 performs communication by dividing a 2.4-GHZ frequency band into 40 channels (0th to 39th channels (hereinafter, may be referred to as Och to 39ch, respectively)). Of these, the short-range wireless communication unit 157 uses the 37th to 39th channels to transmit advertising information and receive a Bluetooth® Low Energy connection request, and uses the 0th to 36th channels for data communication after Bluetooth® Low Energy connection. Therefore, it is clear that the up-converted frequency channel can be provided to the advertising packet, according to the BLE standard) and to provide an output power to an up-converted Bluetooth direction finding packet according to the Bluetooth Low Energy standard (Abe, in Fig. 2 and in Paragraph [0056] and [0069], teaches that according to the standard indicated in Paragraph [0056], FIG. 2 is a chart for describing power consumption in transmitting advertising information. In FIG. 2, the vertical axis indicates the power consumption of the short-range wireless communication unit 157, and the horizontal axis indicates time. Power consumption in transmitting advertising information by using a channel is illustrated for each type of processing. Total power consumption Tx 205 indicates total power consumption in transmission processing for broadcasting the advertising information. Total power consumption Rx 206 indicates total power consumption in reception processing where a receiver for receiving a Bluetooth® Low Energy connection request is kept activated. Transmission power 207 indicates the instantaneous power consumption by the transmission processing. Reception power 203 indicates the instantaneous power consumption by the reception processing. Therefore, it is clear that the device can provide an outpower to the up-converted Bluetooth direction finding packet according to the Bluetooth Low Energy standard.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park, Daoura, and Abe to include the technique of wherein the at least one packet comprises a Bluetooth direction finding packet according to a Bluetooth Low Energy standard, and wherein the wireless modem is configured to provide a baseband transmission capability for the Bluetooth direction finding packet, to provide an up conversion for the Bluetooth direction finding packet to at least one Bluetooth advertising frequency channel, and to provide an output power to the up converted Bluetooth direction finding packet according to the Bluetooth Low Energy standard of Abe in the system of combination of Park and Daoura to provide a technique for determining a position with higher accuracy in coexisting multiple wireless radio communications (Abe, see Paragraph [0003]).).
Regarding claim 15, combination of Park and Daoura teaches the features defined in the claim 12, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
However, combination of Park and Daoura does not explicitly teach that wherein the device is free from a dedicated short range radio signal transmission modem.
Abe teaches that wherein the device is free from a dedicated short range radio signal transmission modem (Abe, in Fig. 10, 11, and 13 and in Paragraphs [0124] and [0126], teaches that Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device that is the one of the candidates of short-range communication device in the above can be free from the short-range modem structure. In step S1005 in Fig. 13, the short-range wireless communication unit 110 requests information about communication protocols available for the communication apparatus 151 from the short-range wireless communication unit 157 by using Generic Attribute Profile (GATT) communication. This request includes information about communication protocols available for the information processing apparatus 101. Receiving the request, the short-range wireless communication unit 157 can recognize that the information processing apparatus 101 can use the Wi-Fi communication method. Suppose here that the information processing apparatus 101 finds out each other's communication protocols available other than Bluetooth® Low Energy, and determines to switch the communication method between the apparatuses to Wi-Fi communication. Alternatively, whether to switch the communication method may be determined by the communication apparatus 151. In this observation, it is clear that the one of the candidate devices can operate as a bridge and can be free from the short-range radio modem.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Park, Daoura, and Abe to include the technique of wherein the device is free from a dedicated short range radio signal transmission modem of Abe in the system of combination of Park and Daoura to provide a technique for determining a position with higher accuracy in coexisting multiple wireless radio communications (Kiochi, see Paragraph [0003]).).
Conclusion
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/JAEYOUNG KWAK/Examiner, Art Unit 2472
/KEVIN T BATES/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2472
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